Historyat Baylor University
Graduates earn $20,391/yr in their first year — about 37.0% below the national History average. Base-case 10-year earnings $628K; scenarios range from $567K to $643K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Baylor University
Baylor's History program provides a robust liberal arts foundation, but its financial outcomes reflect the broader reality for many humanities degrees. Graduates often find themselves in roles where their critical thinking and research skills are highly valued, yet the direct vocational pipeline for history majors often leads to careers requiring advanced degrees, like postsecondary teaching or archival work, or to entry-level positions in sectors like education, non-profits, or government, which may have more modest starting salaries. The Waco job market, while growing, doesn't present a high density of immediate, high-paying opportunities directly aligned with an undergraduate history degree. Many successful alumni pivot into management, leveraging their analytical abilities. To maximize your financial outlook, proactively seek internships that bridge history with business or policy, or consider combining your degree with a minor in a more vocational field.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Baylor University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering History
How Baylor University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Baylor University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Baylor University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in History offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare History trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about History at Baylor University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at Baylor University?
A score of 23/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for History. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is History at Baylor University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $24,625 against $20,391/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace History careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $567,413 in decade earnings vs $642,565 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with History from Baylor University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.